Foot control contact



y 26, 1932- F.IJ. BRIDGEMAN 1,869,045

FOOT CONTROL CONTACT Filed April 23. 1931 2 SheetsSh -et l July 26, 1932. F. .1. BRIDGEMAN FOOT CONTROL CONTACT Filed April 23, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 x b R W/IIIIVII V V/IQvEVIIIIIIY/W/VV VVVMIIV? f Patented July 26, 1932 I UNITED sTATES PATENT? 1 F103 FRANK J. BRIDGEMAmor CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE LAKE ERIE CHEMICAL COMPANY, or CLEVELAND, 01m A conronn'rron or OHIO 1 FOOT CONTROL CONTACT Application filed April 23,

This invention relates to foot control contacts for the closing of electric circuits, and includes that kind of contact which may be operated by a movement of the foot, and that may be placed upon the'floor beneath a desk or table, for example, under a bank tellers counter, store counter, desk, etc., and it also provides a shield or cover to protect the device from mechanical injury, dust, dirt,

etc., and which shield may also be used as a foot rest.

The invention described herein is a modification of that described in my co-pending application, filed October 22, 1930, Serial Number 490,531.

One object of the invention is to provide a foot control contact for use in electric protection systems used in banks, stores, etc., that is actuated by a movement of the foot and thereby close an electric circuit which latter includes a source of electricity, and the electric devices which are intended to discharge asphyxiating or other disabling or irritating gases for the purpose of disabling bandits or other criminals who are attempting robbery or other unlawful acts, and thereby enabling their capture.

A further object is to provide a foot operated contact means in which the contact actuating means is normally locked against movement,and requires an unlocking movement before the electric contacts can, be.

closed.

Other objects of the invention will be apparentto those skilled in the art upon reading the specification.

In the accompanying drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in perspective of one type of a completed foot control contact;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view on the 1931. Serial mfssaae'z.

towards the right, showing a foot in elevation, and with themovable elements raised; Fig. 5 is a horizontal view,,partly inlsection, looking down from the top on the line 5, 5, of Fig.2, showingthe electric contacts open, and also showing certain parts in elevation; and I g 6isa horizontal longitudinal view partly in section and partly in elevation lookingdown from the top on the line6, 6 of Fig. 4, andshowing one electric contact, at the left, closed. j

The foot control contact as illustrated, consistsof arigid structure having a pair of upright sides, 1, 1, suitably connected and braced by cross rods 2, 2, and afoot rest 3; suitably attached to the-top of the device is a cover piece 4, which protects the device from mechanical injury, dust and dirt, and which may also serve as a foot rest. Upon the inside surfaces of the upright sides 1, 1, are bosses 5, 5, Figs. 5 and 6, and upon said bosses. 5, 5, is suitably swivelled as by screws, bolts, etc., a swinging, member comprising horizontally projecting arms 6, 6, with their extremities 7 7 joined by a connecting bar,

by screws or otherwise; mounted upon said square rod 8 is a tube or otherhollow rod 9 having a square hole shown in Fig. 2; the tube 9 is shorter than the rod 8, and provided with end pieces or flanges 10, 10;

between said flanges 10 and the ends 7 of for example a square rod 8 suitably attached Upon said flanges 10 are mounted electric contacts 13,13, which are arranged to make contact with contact pieces 14, 1 1, which latter are mounted upon the arms 6, 6, said electric contacts 13, 14.- functioning as a switch to be closed by a foot movement described hereafter. Upon the surface of the tube 9, are mounted projections knobs, or other protruding shapes 15, between which are spaces 16, the knobs 15 serving to engage the toe of a shoe, 18, Fig. 6, when. the foot is placed within the device and raised to lift the tube 9 free from engagement with the locking means 12, 12, as shown in -Fig.,4:,

and after which the tube 9 may be moved 7 to the right or the left by a foot movement,

Fig. 6, against the pressure of one of the springs 11, and thereby make contact be tween contact points 13 and 14, as shown at the left hand end ofFig. 6, thereby clossaid slidable element after said slidable element has been unlocked.

In testimony whereof I hereby aifix my signature.

FRANK J. BRIDGEMAN.

ing .an electric circuit, and electrically discharging the asphyxiating or irritating gases,.or actuating any other type of electric alarm or signal. Upon removal of the foot, the "lifted tube 9 will fall back by gravity, or may be pressed back by a spring, not shown, into the normal horizontal position, Figs. 2, 3, and 5, whereupon the springs 11 will pressthe said tube 9 into a central or neutral position and the flanges 10 will then be engaged or locked by the lugs 12, as shown in Fig.

I claim 1. A foot control contact, comprising a rigid structure, swinging members, said swinging members having .a horizontal con necting bar, locking means, a slidable ele- .ment on said connecting bar, said locking means arranged to hold said element locked against accidental movement when said element is in the neutral position, electric contacts, and said contacts arranged to be closed by a movement of said slidable element after said element has been unlocked. v 2. A foot control contact, comprising a .rigid structure, swinging members, said swingingmembers having a horizontal connecting bar, locking means, a slidable element on said connecting bar, springs to press said slidable elementinto a neutral position, said locking means arranged to hold said slidable element locked against accidental movement when said element is in the neutral position, foot engaging surfaces on said slidable element, electric contacts, and said contacts, arranged to be closed by a movement of said slidable element after said element has been unlocked.

3. A foot control contact, comprising a rigid structure, swinging members, said swinging members having a horizontal'connecting bar, locking means, a slidable element on said connecting bar, springs to press said slidable element into a neutral position, said locking means arranged to hold 

